案件事实的属性和案件新闻的报道效果

案件事实是一个具有多极蕴涵的事实 ,案件事实的传播效果应该是对社会、对公众有益的。这种有益的传播效果的获得依据于我们对案件事实属性的正确把握。案件新闻事实是内涵法制理念的事实 ,是包含着复合因果关系的事实 ,是蕴涵是非两极的事实。     

从新闻的商品属性看虚假新闻的侵权责任

从新闻媒体和新闻的特征看,新闻是一种特殊的商品。新闻媒体和新闻受众之间存在着一种事实上的契约关系。新闻受众要支付一定的订报费或收视、收听费;新闻媒体要提供真实的新闻信息。虚假新闻的出现,恰恰是新闻媒体对双方约定内容的违反,构成了对新闻受众合法权益的侵害。     

推动中国民主进程因素研究——以新闻媒体为例

作为同政治、民主有着天然联系的新闻媒介,在当代中国的民主政治进程中是不应缺位的。尽管面临着诸多的障碍,但我国的新闻媒体还是可以在推进当代中国的政治民主进程中发挥其应有的作用。     

碎片化的女性新闻:对《中国妇女报》的内容分析(1990-2002)

本研究以1990-2002年《中国妇女报》为研究对象,考察它所再现的女性新闻的变迁趋势。本文区分了关于女性新闻的不同定义,从不同角度对《中国妇女报》的报道进行内容分析,发现当下中国女性新闻呈现出一种碎片化的再现方式,本文进而总结了“碎片化”一词所包括的6个方面的特征。文章最后指出,碎片化折射了当下中国社会转型和媒体转型的进程,是转型新闻界的普遍特征之一。     

提升核心竞争力 打造“城视”传播新平台——试论“三网融合”下城市台的改革发展之道

随着＂三网融合＂进入实施阶段,电视产业迎来了新的变革期。置身于其中的广大城市台,需要面对挑战,并力争在其中孕育出新的生机和活力。本文试图在紧紧围绕电视新闻从＂本土、互动、服务＂上做文章,牢牢把握和提升城市台核心竞争力;并重点就加强城市协作、城际联合、打造＂城视＂传播新平台的实际操作层面上探究出一条符合城市台电视新闻的改革发展之道。     

Hermeneutical dimensions of a media ethic

Abstract

This article explores the concept of a communication ethic, with specific reference to news practice. Can communication be ethically neutral? I would argue that it cannot and will show that certain hermeneutical elements (or aspects of interpretation theory) not only make communication possible, but morally accountable as well. Guided by the philosophy of Hans-Georg Gadamer, I will draw on a recent presentation by Donald Matheson, who teaches journalism at Canterbury University, in New Zealand. Three obstacles in the path towards a fuller ethical vision of news practice are initially examined: an emphasis on verification of factual presentation at the expense of meaning-making, the inadequacy of ethical discourses of independence and distrust of sources, and the methodological relationship between ethical discourse and practice. An alternative conceptualisation of news practice challenges the bias against understanding implicit in traditional news practice, discovers an intrinsic role for the subjectivity of the journalist and comes to recognise the importance of what Jake Lynch terms an ‘ethic of responsibility’. To the same end of a more accountable media ethic, certain key concepts of Gadamer's hermeneutical philosophy, such as openness, listening, close distance and self-knowledge, are introduced and briefly discussed.     

Political posturing and the need for peace journalism in South Africa: The case of Julius Malema

SUMMARY

On February 2, 1990 the media emergency regulations were rescinded by the state president, mr. F.W. de Klerk. This has lead to the idea in some quarters that the media in South Africa are now totally free. Contrary to this belief the author shows that at the start of 1991 a plethora of restrictions are still being placed on the media in South Africa. These restrictions are indicative of National Party media policy that has been formulated since 1948. In view of this, the general objections of the African National Congress (ANC) with regards to the present media system in South Africa are spelt out from a media policy perspective. The merits of these objections are evaluated, after which the Manoim-debate concerning future policy formulation is briefly dealt with. This debate was mainly conducted in the print media in 1990. The possible lessons that a future independent black press could learn from the demise of the Daily Mail are set out. To conclude, the idea is put forward that the media in South Africa should immediately start to agitate for positive media policy stipulations (a broad media policy framework). Some of the media policy issues that governments of the future will have to address, are also identified.     

Positioning independent community media: Findings from a case study of six small South African newspapers

Abstract

This article brings defining aspects of ‘community media’ – as proposed by a group of media stakeholders – into dialogue with research findings from a study on small ‘independent media’. One significant difference between the two media sectors is that the former is usually understood as being driven by commune-style ownership and community control, and the latter by private ownership and profit-driven control. We argue that perceptions constructed by this difference potentially marginalise small independent media organisations. It may compromise their access to funding as well as obscure how, and how much, they contribute to their communities. We find that the six South African small independent newspapers in this research meet defining criteria for ‘community media’. Research findings on issues such as social responsibility, participatory democracy, media diversity and the generation of skills and wealth demonstrate how the principles and practices of the two media sectors overlap. So we propose ‘independent community media’ as a more inclusive and appropriate concept and term for small community-oriented publications, irrespective of their ownership profiles or relationship to profit. Independence is also examined – particularly how the newspapers balance editorial independence with outside control: this reveals inequitable practices currently threatening some newspapers’ survival and success.     

Evaluating authorial ‘objectivity’ and ‘stancetaking’ in reporting the making of a new constitution in Zimbabwean newspapers

ABSTRACT

Zimbabwe held ‘fresh’ elections on July 31, 2013 under a new constitution. This was in line with the provisions of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), a political power-sharing compromise signed between Zimbabwe's three main political parties, following the heavily disputed 2008 harmonised presidential and parliamentary elections. The GPA established in Zimbabwe a Government of National Unity (GNU). On the road to making a new constitution, political differences and party politicking always seemed to take precedence over national interest. This political polarity in Zimbabwe resulted in the heavy polarity of the media, especially along political ideological grounds. The new constitution-making process and all its problems received heavy coverage in almost all national newspapers. This article analyses the discourse-linguistic notion of ‘objectivity’ in ‘hard’ news reports on the new constitution-making process by comparing the textuality of ‘hard’ news reports from two Zimbabwean national daily newspapers: the government-owned and controlled Herald and the privately owned Newsday. Focusing on how language and linguistic resources are used evaluatively in ways that betray authorial attitudes and bias in news reporting, the article examines how the news reports uphold or flout the ‘objectivity’ ideal as explicated through the ‘reporter voice’ configuration, and within Appraisal Theory.     

Opinion Formation in Social Media: The Influence of Online News Dissemination on Facebook Posts

ABSTRACT

This study aims to explore the influence of online news dissemination on public opinion in social media and examine what factors determine the influence. Online news stories (N=51) from 37 sources and Facebook posts (N=317) on the construction of Africa’s first modern international railway line, the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway line, were retrieved between June and November 2017 for the period April 11, 2012 to November 30, 2017. Comparative content analysis of online news and Facebook posts revealed that there was positive correlation between frame repetition by news media and prevalence of the frame in social media opinion. The results showed that there were statistically significant associations in the presence of positive as well as negative frame tones between news articles and Facebook posts. However, the relationship in the use of neutral frame tone between news and opinion was not significant. Regarding composition, short news stories exert more influence on social media opinion than longer news articles, as indicated by negative correlation between news article length and its influence on opinion. Overall, the results suggest that online news dissemination strongly influences opinion formation in social media.